Photo Gallery: Int'l responders join fire fighting

As Israeli society starts to take stock of damage caused by largest fire in nation's history, foreign aid reinforces containment effort.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS, JPOST.COM STAFF
Carmel fire plane 311 AP (photo credit: Associated Press)
Carmel fire plane 311 AP
(photo credit: Associated Press)
Foreign firefighters and aircraft poured into Israel Friday, in an unprecedented wave of international assistance as the country battled a huge forest fire that has killed over 40 people and displaced thousands.

Some 100 firefighters from Bulgaria have arrived as well as forces from Jordan and Greece. Fire extinguishing planes were on their way from Britain and Cyprus as well as aid from the United States, Russia, Egypt, Spain, Azerbaijan, Romania and Turkey — which put aside recent tensions to lend a hand.Investigators speculated that the fire could have been sparked accidentally, or it might have been deliberately set.